Things to see and do in the park at Fell Foot

A man walking a dog at Fell Foot Park in Cumbria — Fell Foot is a great place for dog walking with plenty of space to roam | © National Trust Images / Shaun Barr

Take a leisurely walk around the park and meadows, take a yoga class or even try your hand at orienteering. There's plenty of things to do at Fell Foot. Enjoy the views and get outdoors in the fresh air.

Plan your visit

Fell Foot Park is open 9am – 8pm Sunday – Friday and 8am - 8pm on Saturdays.
The Boathouse Café is open 9.30am – 5pm every day.
Parking is free for National Trust members. There is a parking charge for non-members (£6 for up to 2 hours, £7.50 for up to 4 hours, £9 all day). Booking is not required.
Picnic tables and benches can be found outside the café. Barbeques are not permitted at Fell Foot.
Fell Foot is ideal for paddling, swimming and boating. Take a look at the Water sports page for information on equipment hire, launching your own equipment and guided activities.
Active base is a state-of-the-art changing facility with showers, lockers and underfloor heating. Day passes are available from just £2 and can be bought from the café.

A man and a woman posing for a festive photo with their dog at Fell Foot — Don your Christmas jumpers for professional dog photographer Shaun Barr to capture that fun image of you and your dog. | © National Trust Images / Shaun Barr

Santa Paws Festive Photo Studio at Fell Foot, weekends from 18 November

This Christmas dogs too can join in the festive fun at Fell Foot. Don your Christmas jumpers and hats for professional dog photographer Shaun Barr to capture that fun image of you and your dog, to share with friends and family.Why not make a day of it with a walk in the meadow and a visit to our dog-friendly café, before heading next door to one of our historic boathouses, transformed into a festive pop-up photo studio. £10 per shoot. Book your tickets.

Autumn & winter in the park at Fell Foot

In autumn and winter Fell Foot park is a great place to watch across the water as the woodland colours change alongside Windermere and later, if it’s cold enough, you’re likely to see mist over the lake or even a dusting of snow on the very tops of the fells.

A walk along the water’s edge and into the south meadow provides great views north towards to the Fairfield Horseshoe and brings you down to the southernmost tip of Windermere as it meets the River Leven. Here you’ll find rich reedbeds beginning to turn brown and home to wildlife such as the reed warbler and elusive otters.

It’s a great place to walk the dog on a blustery day with chance to warm up in the Boathouse café with a hot drink, soup or meal afterwards.

Walking at Fell Foot

If you enjoy walking and being outdoors then Fell Foot is the place for you.

There are two recommended walks, but feel free to explore off the beaten track. Try the easy loop down to the lakeshore or venture further afield to the meadow. Pick up a welcome leaflet for a free map of each route.

Walking route one

This short route through the parkland is fully accessible. Walk past the gothic boathouses and the Active Base which has state-of-the-art changing rooms, showers and meeting rooms and a clubhouse. Along the shoreline, take in far-reaching views north, with plenty of photographic opportunities, especially of the Fairfield Horseshoe.

If you're with little ones, why not drop into the children's playground and burn off some energy.

Walking route two

This tranquil 2.5km route takes you around the whole park. The walk is a little more strenuous and takes you to the wildflower meadow. Continue along the shoreline until you reach a gate. Go through it and explore the southernmost tip of Fell Foot.

You'll be rewarded with some great views and the chance to spot some rare wildlife such as water rails which are a smaller relative of moorhens and coot water fowl.

Parkrun during the Fell Foot Outdoor Festival at Fell Foot, Cumbria — A parkrun at Fell Foot | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Limber up for a parkrun

Every Saturday morning, Fell Foot hosts a popular 5km parkrun. Organised by a group of dedicated volunteers, all abilities are welcome and encouraged to enjoy the challenge while taking in the scenery at Fell Foot.

This activity is free, however parking charges still apply to non-National Trust members. Please register your interest first on the parkrun website.

Orienteering

Orienteering combines map reading and running. Competitors have to find their way between a series of checkpoints, called ‘controls’, as quickly as possible. There’s no set route between the controls, so you have to decide which way to go to find your way. 

This is a free activity, but parking charges still apply. Simply follow the steps below:

Before you visit

Download the free MapRunF App onto your mobile device.
Download the Fell Foot map from the Lakeland Orienteering website or pick up printed maps on site from the café.

When you arrive

Pick one of the two courses available on the MapRunF App.
Go to the designated start point shown on the map.
Follow your course to the end and don't forget to go to the 'finish' control to stop the clock.

Relax with yoga

Why not relax in the active base with a yoga session? Clare Landon is an experienced yoga instructor specialising in Yin Yoga which includes breath work, meditation and subtle strengthening movements. Yin Yoga is a relaxing practice designed to calm the nervous system, tone the body and ease tension throughout – an ideal way to unwind after the day’s activities. These classes are suitable for all ages and levels of experience. Visit Clare's website at clarelandonyoga.com for further information.